It didn't really seem like Christmas this year. Of course, the real important night is the solstice. Time to reflect through the winter and create new goals. All days get longer from here. It was the first year in awhile that I didn't put up a tree. I usually adorn it with ornaments of culinary influence, as well as my revered collection of Disney Villianesses. Dante was the most festive this year as she sported her jinglebells, ringing along as she patrolled the property for unusual suspects.
We were to spend Christmas Eve with some friends at their house. Avid wine and food enthusiasts as they are, of course, we expected to have a lovely time. I was in charge of bringing appetizers. By the time early afternoon arrived, I was engulfed in several projects in my little well -equipped tree house kitchen.
I chose to make two appetizers. The first was a homemade mini chive & lemon zest scone with Bellwether Farms Creme Fraiche, Smoked Trout and red onion. The second was a buckwheat blini with duck confit (homemade, of course) and a "Farmhouse Chutney" by Stonewall Farms. I couldn't stop there. I had the need to make chocolate chip cookies. Perhaps it was my need to feel connected to something familiar as the month (let alone the year) thus far had proved emotionally, mentally, physically and professionally challenging, but of course that's another story...
Both appetizers seemed to delight the guests as they sipped Vintage Veuve Clicquot. Our meal that evening was three beautifully appointed courses cooked by the host, Don, himself:
Course One
Lobster, Dayboat Scallop and Hawaiian Blue Prawn Cioppino
in a Broth of Shibumi Knoll Tomato Preserves
2005 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay
2006 Peter Michael "Les Pavots" Chardonnay
Course Two
Colorado Lamb Bourguignonne,
Spinach Gratin & Wild Mushrooms
1979 Haute Brion
2004 Shibumi Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon
Dessert
Pecan Tart
1836 Blandy's Madiera
We were honored to be invited again. Don and Joanne are wonderful people. We fell asleep by the fire when we returned home that night. We slept soundly to the tune of raindrops and wind as a winter storm had seiged the land for a few days. The chimes played harmoniously and we slumbered well into the morning...
Upon my waking to Christmas Day, the fire was stoked and the coffee was on. Daniel was busy in the kitchen. One of my gifts from him was a fat, perfectly dense and ripe aromatic alba truffle. We had it shaved liberally over an English muffin and a perfectly poached egg, with perfectly small diced potatoes sprinkled with alba truffle salt (one of my gifts to him!). Of course, one cannot eat something of this sort without Champagne. Vintage 1999 Vilmar & Cie a Rilly la Monrange. Its complex bouquet was reminiscent of resinous herbs and white flowers all vieled in flinty minerality. Very unusual indeed. It was very memorable and stunning at that.
We then napped and awoke to make a four wheeler journey up to the Villa for some holiday cheer. Two bottles of Baumard Cremant de le Loire and one more bottle of Veuve went down the hatches (shared with ten others, lest you think we to be lushes!) along with some caviar and accoutrements as well as some of my Hampshire pork rillettes and artisan cheeses.
We returned home for our own dinner, made by Daniel. He was really into doing all the cooking this week. Braised oxtails with a saffron risotto studded with sweet peas. I made a salad of garden greens: arugula, radish leaves, japanese cabbage and various lettuce leaves, with a red wine vinaigrette. Wow. We drank a 1993 Dunn Petit Sirah (that's how it's spelled on the bottle!). The wine was as masculine as you can get. It took me back in time to the days of cowboys-- reckless, wild and crazy brazen cowboys, shooting up into the midnight sky by a bonfire (near a big, dirty barn)! You may think I am crazy. (You wouldn't be the only one...) It was austere and tannic and could have sat in that bottle another ten years, at least. However, once we decanted it and it came to temperature, subtle nuances of red cherry and smoke surfaced, with tanned leather and old wood. A man's wine, for sure. A perfect pairing.
This morning I awoke yet again to the smell of the kitchen. Daniel had been inspired again to make a completely insane breakfast of the same poached farm fresh eggs and english muffins, only this time we had wild matsutakes, the truffled fried potatoes and crispy bacon. Daniel indulged even further by spreading foie gras pate on his english muffin. I couldn't do it. The waistline has been too unforgiving as of late. We negated to have bubbly as we both had agendas for the day.
Mine was to hike until I had an epiphany. I was successful. Empowerment began today with the advent of tomorrow's new moon in Capricorn. I had an amazing time of it and have prepared myself for a new year of a positive and healthy perspective. I even created a beautiful prayer/mantra. When it has gained energy from my using it, I shall share it. Tomorrow we will have homemade pasta with the same alba truffle and some Pinot. It will be Saturday night, after all...
